China has removed three retired military generals from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) just days before the country’s annual “Two Sessions” political meetings.
State media reported that the CPPCC voted to expel Han Weiguo, Gao Jin, and Liu Lei, though no official reasons were provided. The move comes amid an intensified wave of military purges in recent weeks.
The development precedes the annual gathering of roughly 3,000 delegates from the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The high-profile meetings, known as the Two Sessions, are set to begin this week and typically run for about seven days. Mid-term removals are considered unusual, as members generally serve five-year terms ending in March 2028.
Han, 70, previously served as commander of the People’s Liberation Army ground force until his retirement in 2021. Liu Lei was the army’s political commissar during part of Han’s tenure, while Gao Jin formerly led the Strategic Support Force and later the Central Military Commission’s Logistic Support Department before retiring in 2022.
The removals follow other high-level dismissals, including multiple military officials in recent weeks, as President Xi Jinping continues an anti-corruption drive launched after taking office in 2012. Critics have long argued that the campaign also serves to sideline political rivals.
Source: 3news
